Improvement in fans



@eine tatrs glatrat @frn T. W. HAWKINS, 0F New HAVEN, ASSIGNOR ToHIMSELF AND raises'` HAWKINS, 'oF BIRMiNeHAM, GONNEeTrcUT.

` Letters .Patent No. 72,732, dateitecembcr 31, 1867. v

IMPROVEMENT IN FANS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Be itknown that I, T. W. HAWKINS, of NewHaven,in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new Improvement in Fans; and I"do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings andthe letters of reference marked thereon, to be full, clear, and exactdescription ofthe same, and which said drawings constitute part ot' thisspecification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side'view of the fan closed, and in Figure 2, thsame view,the fan opened. This invention relates to an improvement in that classof fans which are made from a succession oi' wood splints fixed in thecentre, and opened by moving the outsidos from the centre, the severalsplints being connected together so that when opened ,they form 4nearlya circle, and consists inthe construction whereby the fan is held openmore securely than has heretofore been done.

Teenable others to construct my mprovement,`I will .proceed to describethe same, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. n

A is the outside splint, one being upon each side, and the severalsplints, B, C, D, dsc., being of the same form, and all pivoted togetherat a. The several splints, B, C, D, Ste., are connected together'by-aribbon, cord, or otherwise, passing from one to the other as denoted inred, iig. 2. Uponthe two splints next the outside,

that is, upon B B, is fined a metallic plate, E, having a llange turnedup nearly or quite as thick as the outer -splint A, and so that whenfolded the flange will Alie close alongside the outer splint, as denotedin iig. 1. The

two outer splints are designed for the handle; and to open the fan, turnthe two outer splintsor handles, one to the right and tbe other to theleft; the tip of the handle will bear against the flange on'the plateE,and spread the several splints between the handles, and when-so'spread,and the twovip'arts of the handle heldin thehand, their tips bearinghard against the flange E, spread and firmly hold tho several splintswhen so spread.

Heretofore, a connection between the several splints and handles properhas been made by continuing the v ribbon or cord around to the handle.This arrangement Ais much in the'way, and from constant use is quicklyworn, so as to destroy the fan. The object of my invention is toovercome this didieulty-aserious objection to this class of fansand bythe arrangement I have described no connection whatever is requiredbetween the splints and handles, other than the plate described. v

' Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new anduseful, and desire to secure by Letters APatent, is A g In combinationwith the several splints, B, C, D,`&c.,4and the handles A,the flangedplateE, when arranged so as to operate in the'nlauner described.

T. W. HAWKINS.

Witnesses:

A. J. Tnsims, J'. H. SBU-MWAY.

